What happened at the Tuesday, Dec. 10 meeting of Mississippi Mills Council? Here are the highlights

It was a stacked agenda at the Tuesday, Dec. 10 meeting of Mississippi Mills Council. Here are the highlights, which include 78 new childcare spaces and allocations for the 2025 Mississippi Mills Municipal Grants Program.

Last night’s meeting opened with the Mayor’s Annual Address, where Mayor Christa Lowry highlighted 2024 accomplishments and provided a look ahead to priorities for 2025. (Please watch for a separate release on the Mayor’s Annual Address).

Barb Sheldrick and Mary Ann Murray of Age Friendly Together (formerly Age-Friendly North Lanark) provided a delegation on their emergency preparedness for older adults resource guide. The initiative was supported by the Municipality through a Community Safety and Well-being grant. Council received the delegation as information and directed staff to work with the organization on a finalized document.

A public meeting was held concerning a zoning by-law amendment for 3020 Ramsay Concession 11B to rezone the property to add “Light Industrial” as a permitted use. The applicant is also seeking to permit six accessory structures on the site, as only three are permitted currently. Council will consider this matter at a future meeting.

Council passed the new Water Works By-law, which consolidates all water works-related by-laws into one. The by-law provides rules and regulations for the maintenance and operations of the water works system in the Municipality. Highlights include an improved permit process for work on or around the municipal water system and an associated cross-connection policy.

Council accepted the final Water Wastewater Master Plan. The plan provides a roadmap for future planning decisions and capital investments in water and wastewater infrastructure. It includes high costs associated with several recommended projects, but larger projects will not proceed without substantial funding from upper levels of government. Council also directed staff to prepare a work plan to implement recommendations in the plan and bring a report back to the Committee of the Whole in Q1 2025.

The new Capacity Allocation Policy and related by-law was also endorsed by Council and will be used to manage the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant and the allocation of infrastructure to new development. Introduced as part of Bill 185, this is a key tool for the responsible management of the remaining capacity of the wastewater treatment plant and the long-term water supply for Almonte.

The final 2025 Fees and Charges By-law was approved. This by-law establishes the rates for services provided by the Municipality, including licensing, canine control, garbage and recycling, fire inspections, planning and development fees, and more. The following items, discussed during the Committee of the Whole, were brought forward and approved at a special Council meeting following the Committee of the Whole.

Council passed a motion to delegate spending authority (to a maximum of $50,000) to the CAO, Director of Protective Services, and Director of Corporate Services for spending from Mississippi Mills Fire Department Training Centre reserves or from excess in-year revenues. This will allow for more efficiency in the operations of the training centre and the ability to address emerging needs.

Council endorsed the new Childcare Expansion Project to fund a new childcare building. This fall, Lanark County allocated 78 new childcare spaces to Mississippi Mills under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program, bringing the Municipality’s total licensed spaces to 151. Identified in the Community Services Master Plan, there is a growing need for additional childcare services, with 425 children currently on the Mississippi Mills Childcare Services waitlist. Council directed staff to submit a startup funding application to Lanark County for CWELCC partial funding for a new building to accommodate the new and existing childcare spaces. The application is due December 13, 2024, and if successful, the Municipality would be required to have the new building complete and in operation by December 31, 2026. Due to this accelerated timeline, Council has unanimously approved the Childcare Expansion Project on the condition of a successful CWELCC startup grant.

Further, Council directed staff to engage with Carebridge Community Support to renegotiate the Memorandum of Understanding for their affordable housing development at 34 Victoria Street and report back to Council. Preliminary consideration shows the lands can support both Carebridge’s project and be complemented by a new childcare facility. Stay tuned for more information on this project in the near future.

Allocations for the 2025 Mississippi Mills Municipal Grants Program were approved by Council. A total of 16 applications were received, and $42,461 will be distributed to community groups and organizations. Those receiving funding include:

• Ginawaydaganuc Village – $5,000
• North Lanark Agricultural Society – $5,000
• North Lanark Highland Games – $4,200
• Almonte Readers & Writers – $4,000
• Pride in Mississippi Mills – $4,000
• Almonte Celtfest – $3,500
• Almonte in Concert – $3,200
• CycleMore/Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month – $3,000
• Pakenham Frost Festival – $3,000
• Centre for Creative Living – $2,500
• Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust – $1,500
• Almonte Legion Pipe Band – $1,000
• Black History Dance – $812
• Mississippi Lakes Association – $750
• Mississippi Mills Community Poppy Project – $500
• Yesteryear Variety Show – $500

The contract for Landfill Monitoring and Engineering Services was awarded to EXP Services Inc. for 2025–2027 in the amount of $219,753. The Municipality currently has contracts with two consultants for landfill monitoring services, and this contract will consolidate all landfill monitoring into one. In addition to landfill monitoring and reporting services, the contract includes the development of a closure plan for the Howie Road landfill.

Council adopted the updated Solid Waste Management Strategy. This replaces the 2012 Solid Waste Management Strategy and updates current policy and legislation, provides a service delivery framework, and considers the needs of the Municipality over the next 25 years. Council’s motion also directed staff to complete recommendations in the strategy for reviews of a centralized depot and organics program.

A joint Notice of Motion from Councillor Denzil Ferguson and Councillor Jane Torrance was approved regarding the Lanark County Police Services Board. Councillor Ferguson will remain the Mississippi Mills Council representative on the board for the remainder of the current term, and Councillor Torrance will serve as the alternate appointee.

In her Partnership and Advocacy Update, Mayor Lowry provided information on ongoing efforts in the areas of affordable housing, childcare, primary care/emergency room closures, and more.

Upcoming Meetings:

• Hybrid Council Meeting – January 14, 2024, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow Council.
• Hybrid Council Meeting – January 28, 2024, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow Council.